Aryepiglottic Folds

plica aryepiglottica

The aryepiglottic folds are paired folds of mucous membrane that run from the sides of the epiglottis back to the arytenoid cartilages. They form the side walls of the laryngeal inlet and contain the aryepiglottic muscle and the small cuneiform and corniculate cartilages. On each side they separate the larynx from the piriform fossa of the pharynx.

Anatomical Data

Structure & Supply

Location	Lateral margins of the laryngeal inlet, between the epiglottis in front and the arytenoid cartilages behind.
Parts	Mucous membrane Aryepiglottic muscle fibres Cuneiform tubercle Corniculate tubercle Upper edge of the quadrangular membrane
Nerve Supply	Internal laryngeal nerve (sensory, branch of the superior laryngeal nerve from the vagus); Recurrent laryngeal nerve (motor to aryepiglottic muscle)
Blood Supply	Superior laryngeal artery
Lymphatic drainage	Superior deep cervical nodes (via vessels following the superior laryngeal artery)

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Help close the laryngeal inlet during swallowing, act as a sphincter that protects the airway, and direct swallowed material sideways into the piriform fossae.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Short or floppy aryepiglottic folds that collapse inwards on breathing in are the main cause of laryngomalacia, the commonest cause of noisy breathing (stridor) in infants. Supraglottic cancers here tend to spread early to neck lymph nodes because the area has a rich lymphatic supply. The folds swell markedly in angioedema and supraglottitis.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Laryngomalacia

Inward collapse of soft supraglottic tissues on inspiration in infants, producing stridor that is often worse when feeding or lying on the back. Most cases resolve by about 18-24 months.

Supraglottic Carcinoma

Cancer of the supraglottic larynx including the aryepiglottic folds. It often presents late with throat pain, swallowing problems or a neck lump.

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